“Delaney!”
I turn around, hoping any external signs of my inner distress have already faded.
Sabine jogs up to my level. “It’s not the end of the world, but the trophy is gone.”
My heart sinks. I know this is part of the game, the long back and forth of securing it, but wejustpulled it off. With everything else going on, Capture hasn’t been at the forefront of my mind.
“When?”
“It must have been sometime today, because it was in the kitchenette when I left for class this morning,” she says. “I’m going to call another strategy meeting.”
My simmering irritation toward Mrs.Vidar-Tett has now found another channel of attack. I’d bet all my hostessing money Sumner had something to do with it.
Maybe this is one thing I can easily rectify.
“I’ll be back,” I tell Sabine, then retrace my prior route until I’m bursting out the double doors and heading straight toward Segner.
There aren’t many people in the commons at this hour since most students are at dinner. Mumbling conversation emits from different areas of the room as the last of the day’s milky sunlight swims through arched glass windows and pools over well-loved furniture. Students with AirPods in their ears ignore me when I pad across the burgundy carpet and begin scanning the bookshelves. Iknowit’s here.
The compulsion to find the trophy sidetracks me from my destabilizing waves of emotion. It’s fine. Everything is fine. This is something in my control. I can make this right for Team Hyde.
Suddenly, William’s posh trill mixes with Sumner’s gravelly cadence. They’re maneuvering down the stairs, still in uniform, William’s dress shirt buttoned and tucked while Sumner’s rolled his sleeves up to his elbows, sans tie.
My pulse quickens as I stride over. “You really had time to pull off an entire trophy heist on top of everything else we’re currently dealing with?”
Sumner looks momentarily taken aback. “Did I?”
“Yes,” I say as he steps around me. I follow. “You did.”
We’re halfway across the room before he bothers to glance at me. “That’s how the game works.”
The generic iPhone ringtone blares from his pocket. Sumner pulls it out and studies the screen before answering. “Hey, bud.”
It must be his younger brother. As he turns his back to me, I take the opportunity to keep scanning the room. I peek under throw pillows and look inside potted plants scattered in various corners of the room so I can rule out the most obvious spots.
“Don’t worry, I’ll get it sorted.” Sumner’s following me leisurely, probably to make sure I don’t get my retaliation.
“Just tell me hot or cold,” I whisper as I move toward the unlit fireplace.
Sumner rolls his eyes. “No way,allthe kids at school have them?” He pauses. “Only if you promise you’ll work hard.”
I start toward the stairs leading to the bedrooms, but Sumner slips through the doorframe and blocks my path. “What subject?”
“Delaney, that’s not allowed, and you know it,” Mr.Whelehan scolds.
A few students gawk at this reprimand. Someone even releases a lowoooh. My face flames. Sumner cocks a brow. I hadn’t seen Mr.Whelehan in the corner grading papers. Our instructors reside in an off-campus housing complex and take turns rotating commons shifts to ensure students are on their best behavior.
“You should do your homework instead of watching my streams,” Sumner’s arguing as he follows me to an empty couch where I casually slide my hands under the cushions. “I—no. I’m not sure yet. I’m going to try, okay? She’s not answering my calls.”
There’s a subtle shift in his tone. His whole demeanor has morphed into uncertainty, which is the exact opposite of how I’d describe him on any given day. He takes two steps away from me, running a palm down the back of his neck as he paces.
“Love you,” he’s saying. “We’ll FaceTime tomorrow—yup, five o’clock. You got it.”
William moves closer to observe my effort. His arms are crossed genially behind his back.
“I guess you’re not telling me where he hid it.”
“I suppose I cannot, since Sumner took no part in retrieving it,” William offers. “I did.”
